Fear fundamentalist governments
I awoke this morning with the words of Gov. Sarah Palin coming to me over the Internet saying that "God" has given us a task in Iraq, and my head rings with voices of Muslim jihadists and Christian fundamentalists throughout the ages, and I think to myself, "Ah, yes, we are here again." A place we have been so many times in history.

Photo: Casting for silvers
Travis Wells reels in a silver salmon on Friday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum hatchery. A run of silver salmon brought more than 40 fisherman to the area.

Photo: First flight
Sean Lanksbury and his son, Malcolm, fly a kite Saturday at Sandy Beach as they enjoy the sunny day. The elder Lanksbury said it was his son's first time flying a kite and he picked it up fast.

Outside editorial: Palin's speech: all the pretty words
As John McCain gave his acceptance speech Thursday night, he could only hope to do as well as Sarah Palin, who had wowed the party faithful the night before, even though her oratory didn't magically boost her qualifications to be vice president.

Tracking a sea lion's life
On a blustery July day in Glacier Bay, about 50 Steller sea lions were hauled out on the rocks at South Marble Island. Amid the caterwauling and bellowing animals jockeying for position rested one placid male, a letter and a number on his left side, H 465.

Landing a salmon shark makes for an exciting charter trip
KENAI - When it comes to halibut fishing, anglers are never entirely sure what they will bring up from the depths below. Occasionally an Irish lord, a large skate or dog fish may end up on the sharp end of the line, but an angler fishing out of Seward last weekend caught something even more unusual.

JDHS dominates home invitational
Anybody who has watched a high school swim meet knows that four hours can somehow speed past in a blur of water-piercing horns, violent splashing and excited teammates' screaming words, or even just sounds, of encouragement.

Cross country in Petersburg
Juneau-Douglas High School junior Leah Francis won the Region V Jack Eddy Classic on Saturday in Petersburg with a time of 18:05.00, and freshman Karissa Jackson was second in 20:20, as the Juneau girls finished first with 22 points.

Alaskans cash in on dividend
ANCHORAGE - It's the season for Alaskans to be rewarded just for living here and this year's take is extra sweet: $3,269, a record share of the state's oil wealth combined with a special cash payout to help with stratospheric energy prices.

Lawmakers plan to order testimony from Palin staff
State lawmakers said they plan to order Gov. Sarah Palin's staff to be interviewed by the Legislature's special investigator, upping the stakes in their investigation of Gov. Palin's firing of the state's former top cop.